title: History of depression but not current depression is associated with signs of atherosclerosis: data from the Gutenberg Health Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the vascular depression hypothesis in the general population, we analyzed the association between current depression, medical history of depression, cognitive and somatic depressive symptom dimensions and measures of atherosclerosis [intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques].
  
  
  METHODS
  We included a representative sample of 5000 participants from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Depression was assessed by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and IMT and carotid plaques were measured at both common carotid arteries using an edge detection system. Regression analyses were performed separately for participants with and without cardiovascular disease, adjusting for medical history, cardiovascular risk factors and psychotropic medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to hypotheses, we found no increased IMT for somatic symptoms of depression; the same was true for depression and cognitive symptoms in the fully adjusted model. Only a moderate relationship between medical history of depression and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was maintained after correction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relationship between depression and atherosclerosis may be more complex than previously assumed. Although the vascular depression hypothesis was not supported, our results support the hypothesis that lasting depression leads to arteriosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beutel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiltink
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinning
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espinola-Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Münzel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blettner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zwiener
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged